[Valle Crucis Conference Center] The Rt. Rev. G. Porter Taylor along with The Board of Directors of the Valle Crucis Conference Center, in Banner Elk, North Carolina, are pleased to announce the selection of the next Executive Director as Margaret Lumpkin Love. Margaret will succeed Tom Eshelman who has been the Executive Director for the past 18 years and is retiring in October to join his wife The Rev. Dean Jeanne Finan in Burlington Vermont.

After a extensive national search Margaret was chosen, from a large pool of candidates and lots of hard work and long meetings, by the board of directors. Margaret will start her new position onOctober 7, 2014. She will overlap with Tom for about 3 weeks while she learns the in’s and out’s of this sacred and historic place. Margaret will experience first hand a Wisdom School with the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault and our wonderful Valle Country Fair, a collaborative effort to help those in need put on with Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

Margaret is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and holds a BA in History from Davidson College. She has worked in conference planning, education and training, and grants management for 15 years. She has extensive experience in working with Board of Directors, fiscal management, human resources, and professional education and training. She has been fortunate to have lived in Anchorage, Alaska; North Yorkshire, England; and most recently, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan.

Margaret is a cradle Episcopalian coming from a large South Carolina family which have included quite a few Episcopal Priests. She has a strong sense of community and a desire to deepen her faith through study, prayer, music, and service to others. Her hobbies include singing, reading, volunteer service, photography, cooking, gardening, and running. Margaret and her husband Kurt have a 2 year old daughter, Ada.

Margaret’s professional background and varied living experiences will be combined in the unique role of the Valle Crucis Conference Center’s next Executive Director. She and her family are truly delighted to have been welcomed so warmly into the Valle Crucis family. Please keep Margaret and her family in your prayers as they make this new transition in their lives and as she takes The Valle Crucis Conference Center into a new phase of its long and varied history in this place and in our Diocese.